Top Creative Resume Tips

Top Creative Resume TipsTop Creative Resume TipsFrom one creative resume to the next, employers often come across the same statement from job candidates I am an effective team player. The hiring manager yawns and thinks, Big deal. Who isnt? But you swear, you really are an effective team player Well, of course you are. The problem is that using the same tired terms on your resume as every other applicant does you no good. Read how choosing the right jas can help you set yourself apart.A survey by The Creative Group highlights the importance of displaying your writing skills when searching for a job. Nearly eight in 10 (78 percent) advertising and marketing executives said theyd rather receive a traditional resume in positiv or PDF format from candidates applying for creative roles. Far fewer executives favored online profiles (14 percent) and video or infographic resumes (3 percent each) as their format of choice.The bottom line Words matter, even in a visual-centric world. And becau se employers may review dozens of creative resumes every day, theres a good chance theyre reading the same blurbs and buzzwords over and over again.The good news is that changing up a few key terms in your resume and cover letter can help you stand out from the crowd. Specifically, instead of placing emphasis on what you are (i.e., the noun) and the modifier (i.e., the adjective), focus on the verb.If you think back to your second grade English class lessons, youll recall verbs are words that imply action. And actions are what employers want to see. They want to know what youve done and how you did it so they can determine for themselves whether effective team player is an accurate description.While you obviously cant ignore the nouns and adjectives, the point here is to zero in on the verb. Like nouns and adjectives, some verbs carry less weight than others. For instance, weaker words such as assisted, contributed, helped or handled suggest you played a marginal role in a project. In fact, those terms dont explain what you actually did. Instead, ask yourself how you assisted. What did you do to move the project forward and achieve success?Following are some before-and-after examples to get you in the right mindsetBeforeAfterASSISTED in developing the social media strategy for a major consumer electronics product launch.IDENTIFIED appropriate channels to execute the social media strategy for a major consumer electronics product launch.CONTRIBUTED to profile articles that would appear on the corporate blog.INTERVIEWED clients to quote in profile articles that would appear on the corporate blog.SUPPORTED product launch through various marketing efforts, including press outreach, social media updates and speaking engagements.EXECUTED marketing campaign, involving press outreach, social media updates and speaking engagements, to support product launch.HELPED with trade show logistics.MANAGED the creation, delivery and storage of trade show displays.COORDINATED spe aking engagements for executives.SECURED speaking engagements for executives and DEVELOPED supporting visuals (PowerPoint slides, handouts).SERVED as a web design consultant for B2B and B2C companies.COUNSELED B2B and B2C companies on web design strategy, tactics and measurement.HANDLED imagery for a company brochure.DESIGNED graphical elements, illustrations and infographics for a company brochure.DEMONSTRATED ability as an effective team player.SPEARHEADED and ORGANIZED cross-functional team meetings to improve communication and collaboration among employees.Notice a difference between the before and after statements? Weaving in verbs with powerful connotations can also drive you to be more specific with the rest of your word choices.Once youve refreshed your creative resume to spotlight your top skills, abilities and accomplishments, read it back to yourself aloud. This will help you identify any glaring grammatical issues, typos or vague, wishy-washy language. And while you shou ld always use spell-check, ask a detail-oriented friend to review the document as well. Experienced staffing professionals in the creative industry can also provide pointers on improving your resume.If you avoid tired terms and clichs on your creative resume and play up power verbs, hiring managers will take notice. They might even hire youExploring new career opportunities? Send us your resume and search our available creative jobs now

Top Digital Footprint Faux Pas

Top Digital Footprint Faux PasTop Digital Footprint Faux PasWhat you say and do outside of work impacts your career pursuits. Yet some people still fail to realize how much their digital footprint matters. Here are some surprising things employers have found when searching verbunden for information about creative job candidates - and advice for avoiding the saatkorn snafus.When you set out to look for a new job, you fine-tune your resume, write tailored cover letters and update your portfolio. But theres another important step you may be forgetting reviewing your digital footprint.Many employers will do some online digging to make koranvers there arent any red flags before scheduling interviews or extending offers. And that can be problematic for candidates who dont clean away any digital debris floating around the internet.In a survey from The Creative Group, advertising and marketing executives were asked to cite the strangest or most surprising thing theyve discovered when search ing online for information about potential creative and marketing hires. Here are some of the most amusing responses along with tips on how to steer clear of the same problems.A potential hire arguing on social media.Tip Be aware that caustic online behavior can come back to haunt you. When emotions are running high, you need to be especially careful about quarreling online or insulting people who have different viewpoints. Feeling heated? Step away from the keyboard and take a 30-second break to consider how a future employer might construe your comments. Also, delete any potentially damaging remarks youve shared on social media, news articles or blogs.SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOGOne candidate shared very negative comments regarding previous employers.Tip Its never a good idea to badmouth former employers, bosses or colleagues, especially in a public forum. Even if the criticism is justified, negative comments will reflect poorly on only one person you. Hiring managers may worry that you lack the temperament and judgment that they expect of their team members.Too much personal information. I have seen an online resume that had the persons date of birth, marital status and other things that were irrelevant and should not be disclosed.Tip There are pieces of biographical data that do not belong in a resume. For instance, theres no need to include details related to your age, race, religion or marital status. In fact, including it can put potential employers in an awkward lokalitt because they are not allowed to take that information into account when making hiring decisions. Your reason for leaving previous positions should be omitted too.A person misrepresented his education and lied in his application materials. He said he had a bachelors degree, when in fact, he did not.Tip Theres no better way to shoot yourself in the foot than to lie to a potential employer. Its easier than ever to get caught and even a seemingly small fib can lead to big questions about your cha racter. Stretching dates of employment, inflating your job title or exaggerating academic credentials just isnt worth the risk. If you dont meet the qualifications for a position, write a customized cover letter explaining why youre still a great fit for the role or simply move on to the next job opportunity.Embarrassing party photos.Tip This one is simple protect your reputation by exercising discretion when it comes to photos - or making sure you take advantage of privacy settings. If someone else has posted a less-than-professional picture of you, ask if he or she will take it down or at least remove the tag or any identifying details that could show up in a Google search.Candidates who misspell words or dont know how to put sentences together in their online portfolio.Tip Run spellcheck and proofread the text in your digital portfolio just as you would your resume and cover letter. Ask a friend who excels at copy editing to review it before you publish it. While writing experti se might not be the top requirement for the role you seek, sloppiness could easily be held against you.One applicants online resume actually had a photo of her with Im assuming her significant other with the caption Im takenTip A resume you post on your website, LinkedIn or other career sites should portray the same level of professionalism as the one you send to employers. Again, theres no need to include personal photos. Save the selfies and relationship status updates for Facebook.Excessive use of profanity on social media sites.Tip Steer clear of cursing on social media, especially while youre job hunting. Profanity may be viewed as a lack of polish in the eyes of potential employers, and they may hesitate to hire you, especially for client-facing roles.Unprofessional email addresses or screen names.Tip Get a handle on your handles. If your email address or screen name is inappropriate, complicated or casts you in an unfavorable light, set up a separate account for job hunting. Just remember to check it regularly.As trivial as some of these examples may seem, like it or not, your digital footprint can influence whether or not you land a job. And even if youre highly qualified, you may be deemed too risky to even bring in for an interview if your online image doesnt align with your professional one. The upside is that you do have the power to make sure youre portraying the skills and qualities that employers seek. So do all you can to sell a version of yourself that will appeal to hiring managers and future colleagues.

Why your cold can feel worse in the summer

Why your cold can feel worse in the summerWhy your cold can feel worse in the summerIf you are currently battling the sniffles on a beautiful summer day, you may feel especially miserable right now. Somehow, the idea of sneezing and coughing all day long seems mora manageable when there is an inhospitable blizzard outside your room. The reason why your summer cold feels worse than a winter cold is more psychological than biological, experts say.If you feel lonely during a summer cold, the symptoms will feel worseHow you think can change how you feel. If youre the only one of your friend group to get sick in the summer, it can feel socially isolating to watch them enjoy the beach and sunlight from your window. That may be why your cold feels particularly unbearable during the summer months of socializing than in the months of winter hibernation.One study found that lonelier people feel worse when they have colds then less lonely people. It makes sense that if you think everyone you kn ow is at the beach or outside doing enjoyable things and youre stuck in your room for a week, that could heighten perceptions of loneliness and perception of cold symptom severity, Chris Fagundes, one of the authors of the study, said.How you defeat this cold is the same, regardless of what month it is. Lots of hand washing, minimize touching your own eyes or mouth, Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University School of Medicine advised. Stay away from sick people and, if youre sick, stay away from others who might be more at risk of severe illness than you.